Richard Kuns (Copy)

How is your memory?  The story is told of a pastor visiting an older parishioner.  During their conversation she asked, “Do you ever think about the hereafter?”  “Yes”, she replied, “all the time.  I walk into a room and say to myself, what am I here after!”

There is a portion of the Eucharistic prayer that is called the “anamnesis”.  It is that part of the of the liturgy that retells the history of salvation and beckons us to remember with these words: Take eat… do this in remembrance of me… Drink this all of you… do this in remembrance of me… (BCP 368). 

The invitation is not simply to remember as an intellectual recall, but rather to relive and participate in the glorious liberation that comes to us as a gift.  We pray together these words as we prepare to go out into the world, “…We thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us thereby that we are living members of the Body of your Son and heirs of your eternal kingdom.  And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord…” (BCP 366)

Psalm 106 was an appointed Psalm last week.  The Psalm reminds us how forgetful and oblivious we all are.  The poet remembers the liberation from Egypt:  Acclaim the Lord, for He is good, for His kindness is forever.  Who can utter the Lord’s mighty acts, can make heard all His praise? (Psalm 106:1-2, Robert Alter)

Then the poet recites how forgetful and ungrateful we are.

v. 7b They do not call to mind Your many kindnesses.  (Literally, “they did not remember”)

v. 13 Quickly they forgot his deeds, they did not await His counsel.

v. 21 They forgot the God their rescuer, Who did great things in Egypt.

Fortunately for ancient Israel and for us God remembers even when we forget.  …You remembered your covenant for their sake, comforted them because of the extent of your love… (Psalm 106:45, Pamela Greenberg)

In these days of distress, doubt, anxiety, anger and fear let us lay hold of God’s gift of grace through grateful fellowship, faithful worship and unceasing prayer.  Let us remember we are the only visible image of God and Jesus most people will ever see.  Indeed, we are “living members of the Body of Christ.”

Richard R. Kuns